Gearbox system with an automated manual gearbox

Abstract

A gearbox system for a vehicle includes an automated manual gearbox; a gearbox control device which controls the gearbox; a monostable toggle switch which is movable by a user in two deflection directions to select a plurality of driving ranges of the gearbox control device, and a visual device which displays graphically a gearshift diagram with driving ranges selectable by the monostable toggle switch. The gearbox control device has a further driving range which cannot be selected by the monostable toggle switch but can be exited by moving the monostable toggle switch. The visual device has at least one display to display a symbol indicating at least one deflection direction by which the further driving range can be exited. The gearbox control device may control the at least one display such that the symbol is only displayed when the further driving range is selected.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gearbox system for a vehicle, comprising:
 an automated manual gearbox; 
 a gearbox controller configured to control the automated manual gearbox; 
 a user-actuable monostable toggle switch which is movable in exactly two deflection directions for selection of at least one of a plurality of driving levels of the gearbox controller; and 
 a visual device configured to graphically display a gearshift diagram having driving levels selectable by the toggle switch; 
 wherein
 the gearbox controller has a further driving level which is not selectable using the toggle switch, 
 when the further driving level is selected, moving the toggle switch in at least one of the two deflection directions causes the further driving level to be exited, 
 the visual device has at least one display configured to display a symbol which indicates the at least one deflection direction of the toggle switch which will cause the further driving level to be exited, 
 the gearbox controller configured to control the at least one display such that the symbol is only displayed when the further driving level is selected, 
 the further driving level is arranged in a gearshift gate between driving levels neutral and drive, and 
 the gearbox controller is configured to shift from the further driving level into the driving level neutral or the driving level drive depending on which of the two deflection directions the toggle switch is moved. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The gearbox system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first switch configured to be actuated by a user to select the further driving level which is not selectable by the toggle switch. 
 
     
     
       3. The gearbox system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the toggle switch has one or both of at least one bar and a ribbing usable by a user to actuate the toggle switch, and 
 the one or both of at least one bar and the ribbing extends at least essentially perpendicular to one of the at least two deflection directions and by means of which the user can operate the toggle switch. 
 
     
     
       4. The gearbox system according  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a further display configured to display a selected gear when the further driving level is selected. 
 
     
     
       5. The gearbox system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the display is configured to display which driving level is selected, and 
 the gearbox controller is configured to control the display to display which driving level is selected. 
 
     
     
       6. A vehicle having the gearbox system as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       7. The vehicle according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the toggle switch has one or both of at least one bar and a ribbing usable by a user to actuate the toggle switch, 
 the one or both of at least one bar and the ribbing extends at least essentially perpendicular to one of the at least two deflection directions and by means of which the user can operate the toggle switch, and 
 the at least one bar protrudes at most 3 cm beyond a console of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       8. The vehicle according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first switch configured to be actuated by the user to select the further driving level which is not selectable by the toggle switch, 
 wherein
 the first switch is arranged spatially separated from the toggle switch, and 
 either the first switch is arranged on a steering wheel or a steering column, or the toggle switch is arranged on a center console, or the first switch is arranged on the steering wheel or the steering column and the toggle switch is arranged on the center console. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the visual device graphically displays the gearshift diagram with driving levels selectable by the toggle switch when the gearbox system is activated. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the further driving level is selected when the first switch is actuated. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first switch configured to be actuated by a user to select the further driving level which is not selectable by the toggle switch, 
 wherein
 the first switch is arranged spatially separated from the toggle switch, and 
 either the first switch is arranged on a steering wheel or a steering column, or the toggle switch is arranged on a center console, or the first switch is arranged on the steering wheel or the steering column and the toggle switch is arranged on the center console. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the further driving level is selected when the first switch is actuated. 
 
     
     
       13. A gearbox controller configured to control an automated manual gearbox of a vehicle, wherein
 the gearbox controller is configured
 to receive gearbox control signals from a monostable toggle switch actuatable by a user in exactly two deflection directions to select among a plurality of driving levels of the gearbox controller, 
 to output signals to a visual device for graphically display of a gearshift diagram having driving levels selectable by the toggle switch; 
 
 the gearbox controller has a further driving level which is not selectable by the toggle switch, 
 in response to movement of the toggle switch in one of the two deflection directions when the further driving level is selected, the gearbox controller causes the further driving level to be exited, 
 the visual device has at least one display configured to display a symbol which indicates the one of the two deflection directions of the toggle switch which will result in the further driving level being exited, 
 the gearbox controller is configured to control the at least one display to only display the symbol when the further driving level is selected, 
 the further driving level is arranged in a gearshift gate between driving levels neutral and drive, and 
 the gearbox controller is configured to shift from the further driving level into the driving level neutral or the driving level drive depending on which of the two deflection directions the toggle switch is moved. 
 
     
     
       14. A gearbox system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a gearbox controller configured to control an automated manual gearbox; 
 a user-actuable monostable toggle switch which is movable in exactly two deflection directions for selection of at least one of a plurality of driving levels of the gearbox controller; and 
 a visual device configured to graphically display a gearshift diagram having driving levels selectable by the toggle switch; 
 wherein
 the gearbox controller has a further driving level which is not selectable using the toggle switch, 
 when the further driving level is selected, moving the toggle switch in at least one of the two deflection directions causes the further driving level to be exited, 
 the further driving level is arranged in a gearshift gate between driving levels neutral and drive, and 
 the gearbox controller is configured to shift from the further driving level into the driving level neutral or the driving level drive depending on which of the two deflection directions the toggle switch is moved.